The Corridors of Power, the Front Lawn, and the Heavenly Seat

by Nathan Shaw

Word for New Zealand (February 2022)

This is a strategic moment in our nation. How should we respond? As God’s people we have the advantage of His heavenly perspective. When attempting to understand God’s perspective it’s our natural tendency to view things through one dimensional lenses. We ask questions like, is God for or against a certain issue? Or, is God’s perspective this way or that way? However, it’s usually by strategically placing different strands of revelation together that we come to understand God’s perspective. As I have been seeking God about our nation He has highlighted four different strands of revelation. I invite you to view the different strands as part of a bigger tapestry. Looking at them together, rather than individually, gives a clearer picture of His heart and purpose for New Zealand.

Strand One: New Waves

In November 2021 God showed me that 2022 would be a year of new winds, new ways, new waves and divine disruptions. This is what I wrote about the new waves:

“New God ordained movements will sweep across nations, boundaries and barriers. These movements will touch every sector of society and will contain the DNA of life and a bright hope for the future. Waves carry weight. It’s the weight that shifts and transforms everything in a wave’s wake. There is a new “woke” coming that will counteract the present counterfeit. This heavenly “woke” will be carried in the wake and the weight of the new waves.”

New waves have already begun to sweep across the nations. There’s much more to come.

Strand Two: Unstoppable Freedom

In 2014 God spoke to me about New Zealand:

“There will be government policy attempts to inhibit the expression of Christianity. Although restrictive laws will be passed, the freedom of God's kingdom will break out on the streets throughout New Zealand, particularly in Wellington. There will be unstoppable freedom.”

I have been asking God, “Is the present situation in any way connected with that which you showed Me in 2014?” He responded that the fulfilment of this prophecy was still future. What He showed me in 2014 was a sovereign move of God, not a reaction to restrictive laws. Three things stood out about this move: purity, childlikeness and spontaneity.

Strand Three: Pentecost – Experience or Throne?

In 2020 I wrote a prophetic article called, “Pentecost 2020: A Significant Demarcation Point for the Church.” In the article I mentioned two strategic truths:

1. Pentecost gave the church a voice. Within a short period of time the whole city of Jerusalem was filled with their teaching (Acts 5:28).

2. Pentecost was connected with a throne. Peter says of Jesus in Acts 2:33, “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”

Quoting from my 2020 article: “Unfortunately many have equated the Pentecost outpouring with an experience. It was much much more than just an experience. It was directly connected with a throne.”

My article was released six days before Pentecost Sunday, 2020. What I didn’t know was that Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, a church pastored by Che and Sue Ahn, took a stand against oppressive regulations by meeting on that Pentecost Sunday. The legal case they took against the Californian Governor went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court ruled in their favour. I believe this is a prophetic picture, the Supreme Court speaking of God’s throne.

When Elijah stood before King Ahab he came directly from standing in God’s Divine Council. His exact words were, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand” (1 Kings 17:1). This spirit of Elijah is part of the prophetic destiny over the nation of New Zealand.

Strand Four: The Corridors of Power, the Front Lawn, and the Heavenly Seat

With the previous three strands as a backdrop I have been praying,“God, please let me stand in Your Divine Council over New Zealand.” This is what He spoke to me:

“This is a season of exposure—both good and bad. I am exposing the hearts of those in the corridors of power and the hearts of those on Parliament's front lawn. Through the events that are unfolding the hearts of many throughout the nation will also be exposed. Many of My people are too quick to join freedom protest movements because they are responding out of anger, frustration, and sometimes even rebellion. I want My people to be responsive to My voice before any other motivation. There is a big difference between making a principled stand against injustice, versus reacting in frustration and anger. The church in New Zealand is uniquely called to walk in the spirit of Elijah. Elijah only appeared before King Ahab having received directives from My Divine Council.”

“There is a position that is much greater than being in the corridors of power or being on Parliament’s front lawn—that position is seated with Me in heavenly places and operating in the associated priestly and intercessory authority (Ephesians 2:6). Beware of the political spirit. This is not a time to take sides or to judge the responses of others. What I am asking of one person I may not be asking of another. This is a time to bow the knee to the Captain of the Lord’s host (Joshua 5:13-15). Let Me expose your heart and allow Me to expose the ungodly agendas in your nation.”

“After Elijah was used to defeat the prophets of Baal he became victim to a spirit of elitism and believed he was the only one standing for righteousness. He made two mistakes. Firstly, he failed to recognize the intercession of the 7000 Israelites who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Secondly, he failed to understand that the battle with Jezebel was a multi-generational battle and that one of his key roles was to equip the next generation to destroy her influence from the land” (1 Kings 19:14-18).

“I have destined New Zealand to walk in the spirit of Elijah. In the days ahead there will be two types of confrontations. Firstly, confrontations that will happen when you stand before ‘kings’ at My directive. And secondly, confrontations that will happen when your authority stands between ‘kings’ and the fulfilment of their agendas” (see for example 1 Kings 17:1, 18:1-2, 21:1-29, 2 Kings 1:1-18).

God also spoke to me that day 21 of the protest on Parliament’s front lawn (February 28^th) would be a significant day. He gave me the following petition and decrees:

• Father I ask that You would take control of the narrative.
• I decree that the voices that need to be heard would be heard.
• I decree that all other voices would be silenced.

Addendum (2^nd March, 2022)

When God says a particular day is significant it is not always obvious until you look back from a later vantage point, but two things have caught my attention already.

1. Rodney Hide, a former ACT Party leader and MP, declared the importance of forgiveness to those gathered on Parliament’s front lawn (YouTube Link). Extending forgiveness is truly one of the greatest breakthrough authorities that we have.
2. An announcement was made that the isolation rules for people returning from overseas would be gone by the end of the week. One news reporter commented, “There’s no doubt that today marks a big shift in our response to COVID-19” (italics added, YouTube Link).

The words, “there’s no doubt that today marks a big shift,” have a prophetic resonance about them that I find hard to ignore. Daniel prayed for 21 days. On day 21 the angel Gabriel gave him strategic revelation about Israel’s future (Daniel 10). God wants to reassure intercessors up and down the nation that their voices have been heard and that a significant shift has happened in the spirit realm. Let’s keep praying and declaring God’s purpose over our nation. And let’s not forget that God has His own ‘front lawn’ and that He loves it when we turn up and petition Him for any righteous cause (Ephesians 2:18, 3:12, Hebrews 4:16).

© 2022 Nathan Shaw.

Related Articles:
Four Things to Expect in 2022 and Beyond (2021) 
Beware of the Political Spirit (2021)
Pentecost 2020: A Significant Demarcation Point for the Church (2020)
Word for New Zealand (2014)

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